Gophers women’s basketball defeats Missouri State in WBIT

The Minnesota Gophers women’s basketball team achieved a hard-fought victory against Missouri State, winning 78-71 in the second round of the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament (WBIT) on Sunday. With this win, the Gophers improved their record to 22-11 and handed the Lady Bears their first home loss of the season. The Gophers started strong, racing to a 15-point lead after the first quarter. They shot well, making 10 of their first 13 shots. By the end of the first quarter, they led 27-12 and had contributions from seven players. Although Missouri State battled back, the Gophers managed to maintain a lead throughout the game. In the fourth quarter, the tension rose as Missouri State narrowed the lead to just three points. However, key plays by Annika Stewart and Mallory Heyer helped seal the victory for Minnesota. Grocholski and Stewart each scored 18 points, while Amaya Battle contributed 15 points with five rebounds and five assists. The Gophers will next host Gonzaga on Thursday, after Gonzaga's unexpected win over Colorado. This matchup will be the Gophers’ first home game of the tournament, finally allowing them to play on their home court after two road games.